Arsenal and Liverpool are the only two-sides with maximum points so far in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s men will face a tough task in stopping the Reds at their fortress Anfield. Arsenal were demolished 5-1 last year in December, and everyone involved at the club knows that they need to improve a lot defensively if they are to stand a chance of earning a positive result at Merseyside.
The Gunners played a traditional back four in that game in December, and they looked far too open as they conceded ten shots on goal. Emery has so far played with a back four this season, but we think that the best chance of getting a result at Liverpool would be to shift to a 3-5-2 formation.
Emery has deployed a back three in the past with Arsenal which was more similar to a 3-4-3 set-up. However, we think that they will need an extra body in midfield to win the 50-50 battles against the hard-working Liverpool midfielders.
Why should Arsenal play three at the back?
One of the primary reasons is that most of Liverpool’s attack comes from wide areas as they have two terrific attack-minded fullbacks in the form of Andy Roberton and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are free-flowing wingers who will often alternate between hugging the byline and darting to make runs through the middle.
In all this, Arsenal’s fullbacks (likely Ainsley Maitland Niles and Nacho Monreal/Sead Kolasinac) will be under severe pressure. They could get caught in no man’s land as they will have to deal with two threats at the same time.
Maitland-Niles is not known for his defensive qualities, and he was exposed at Anfield last time around. Having a back three will bring more protection to Arsenal’s vulnerable fullbacks. They wouldn’t have to worry so much about Mane and Salah making runs behind them as the right-sided centre back, or the left-sided centre back can help them close down the attack.
As mentioned, Maitland-Niles is not at his best while defending and using him in a wing-back role will put less pressure on him defensively.
What should be Arsenal’s back three?
Emery dropped Callum Chambers in the second game, and he will likely trust David Luiz over Chambers again. Sokratis Papastathopoulos is one of the best defenders at Unai Emery’s disposal right now, and he too will probably start. The third centre back spot could go between Nacho Monreal or Callum Chambers, and we think that the experience of Monreal will be the right way to go. Kolasinac can play in a left wing-back position, and his energy and pace to drive forward can help Arsenal in the attack.
